Regulator for pneumatic motors.



T. DANQUARD. REGULATOR FOR PNEUMATIC MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, i907.

Patented May 10, 1910.

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THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO AUTO PNEUMATIC ACTION 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

REGULATOR FOR PNEUMATIC MOTORS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS DANQUARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Regulator for Pneumatic Motors, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a regulator capable of use for controllingpneumatic motors in general, but especially applicable to those forpneumatically operated musical instruments.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction(preferably employing a form of regulator which consists of a collapsingpneumatic having a valve inside the same for controlling the flow of airthrough a wind-way) in which the controlling valve will be regulatedentirely and exclusively by the pneumatic regulator itself without theemployment of any mechanism extending through a wall of the regulatorwhich would have to be packed and would induce leakage; also to providean improved method of controlling the regulator preferably by pneumaticmeans so as to enable it to operate under certain conditions; to easilyprevent its operation by pneumatic means controlled in any desired way,preferably by hand; and to provide a convenient and eflicient form ofvalve for controlling and operating this pneumatic means.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing which shows apreferred form of the invention as applied to a musical instrument, andin which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 1-1 ofFig. 2. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1, andFig. dis a sectional view showing another form of valve which may beused.

The drawing shows the invention applied to an instrument having a mainwind-chest 10 provided with a wind-way 11 to the action which is notshown. The connection between the main wind-chest and said windway isthrough a wind-way comprising a pair of ports 12 and 13 whichcommunicate respectively with the main wind-chest and the wind-way 11,and which communicate with each other through the interior of a governoror regulator 14 shown as comprising a well-known form of pneumatic nor-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 4, 1907.

Patented May 10, 1910.

Serial No. 400,682.

mally held open or expanded by a spring 15. Inclosed within thepneumatic governor regulator 14: is a valve 16 for the port 12 normallyclosing said port with the flow of air from the action to the mainwind-chest,

as indicated by the arrows. The movable leaf of the regulator isprovided with means which constitutes the only means for controlling theoperation of the valve 16. This may be in any desired form, but is shownas comprising a projection 20 on the movable leaf engaging under aprojection 21 on the Valve 16. A light spring 22 preferably is employedto normally tend to hold the valve 16 to its seat. When the regulator isin the position indicated in Fig. 2, it is obvious that the air currentscan have no efiect on the valve 16, and consequently that the instrumentwill play under the direct air tension of the main wind-chest, and thatthe speaking effect will be under the direct control' of the mainbellows.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide a regulator pneumatic foroperating a controlling valve contained therein with accompanying meansextending into said pneumatic for holding said valve away from its seatto allow the playing of accented notes independently of the control ofthe pneumatic by the air currents. In order to do away with thisconstruction of introducing an external element into the exhausted airchamber or passage requiring packing, and resulting, even in the best ofconstructions, in some leakage and wear, I have provided, according tothe present invention, for controlling the operation of the regulator,external means independent of the passage of air through the wind-waybetween the main wind-chest and the wind-way 11, but still controlledpneumatically. This, in its preferred form consists simply in inclosingthe regulator 14 in a chamber 25 which connects through a port 26 with achamber 27, which in turn connects through a port 28 with a chamber 29.The chamber 29 is in constant communication with the main wind-chest 10through an open port 30, and constitutes in effect a part thereof. Thechamber 27 communicates with the outer air through a port 31.

Now in order to operate the device in the manner described, means isprovided whereby the chamber 27 may be connected either with the outsideair or with the wind-chest 10. When it is connected with the windchestthere will be a degree of tension in the chamber 25 equal to that on theunder side of the movable leaf of the regulator, and consequently, thespring 15 will hold the same in expanded condition as indicated in thedrawings. Under this condition of affairs, the instrument will be playedwith ac centuation of the notes. When it is desired to modulate thenotes automatically, the connection is made in the other way, so thatthe chamber 25 is cut of? from communication with the main wind-chest10, and connected with the outside air through the port 31. Y ow thereis atmospheric pressure on the outside of the movable leaf 1st whichwill overcome the spring 15 and collapse the regulator. Then the controlof the regulator over the valve 16 is perfect, and it will cause thatvalve to operate automatically in accordance with the air tensions inthe windway which it controls. If the air tension in the main wind-chest10 decreases the governor pneumatic 1% will rise slightly and thus carrythe valve 16 farther from its seat, and vice versa. In this way externalmeans entering the governor is avoided, and the same is controlled bypneumatic means not requiring any such inadvisable construction, andoperating with absolute efliciency on account of the fact that bothsides of the movable leaf of the pneumatic will always be under the sametension or pressure when the parts are in the position shown in the drawings independent of the degree of tension or pressure in the mainwind-chest.

The means for controlling the ports 28 and 31 may be of any ordinary ordesired form. Thave shown herein two preferred constructions, one ofwhich embodies a pair of valves 35 and 36, both movably mount-ed 011 avalve stem 37 and having limiting buttons 38 and 39 adjustably mountedon screw threads on said stem. A spring 40 normally forces said valvesapart. This spring is long enough to keep both valves on their seats iftheir buttons did not force them away therefrom. A spring 41, slightlystronger than the spring lO, normally moves the valve stem so as to keepthe valve 36 on its seat through the pressure of the spring 40transmitted from the valve 35,

which of course rests against its button 38 which is drawn back from itsseat. The lever 12 is connected by an arm 4:3 with the valve stem tooperate it. The valve stem preferably has a guide at. Now when it isdesired to have the valve 16 operate pneumatically to modulate thenotes, the lever 42 is turned so as to force the valve stem down. Thefirst effect of this is to lower the button 38, and this will allow thespring 40 to expand until the valve is seated, but the valve stem 37continues to move beyond this point until the button 39 engages the l fl I I l a l I I I 1 valve 36 and moves it away from its seat. Thus thechamber 25 is first cut off from the main wind trunk 10 and thereafteropened to the outside air so as to prevent any air entering the mainwindchest directly through the ports 31 and 28. When it is desired tochange back to the original operation, the valve stem is lifted whichfirst draws the button 89 away from the valve 36 and allows the latterto seat, and it is not until this is accomplished that the button 38engages the valve 85 and lifts it. Thus on both motions, direct loss ofair tension to the open air is avoided. One other form of valve whichmay be substituted for this is shown in Fig. 3. Here a chamber or port47 takes the place of the chamber 27 in Fig. 1, and a chamber or porta8, communicates with the main wind-chest 10, as the port 28 does inFig. l. A valve 19 controls these chambers to connect them up in the twoways indicated in full and in dotted lines. In the former case thechamber is connected with the wind-chest and in the latter is open tothe air.

It has been found that if the lever or handle 42 is moved very slowly,the valves 85 and 36 will come to a position where they will lock theair in the chamber 25, which, of course, prevents the regulator fromworking properly. This is overcome by providing means for permitting theair to escape from the casing or chamber 25 when it is caught therein asabove indicated, which will operate at the same time to prevent theadmission of air when there is any tension in the chamber 25. This inits preferred form consists of an opening 50 from the air chamber 25 tothe outer air covered by a valve 51. This allows the regulator to openwhen the conditions demand it, but does not interfere with the playing,as described above.

In the courseof the description of the mechanism shown in the drawings,the operation thereof has been described in full. It may be summarizedas follows :-lVhen the chamber 25 is connected with the main wind-trunkthe valve 16 is held away from its seat so as to allow a free andunobstructed flow of air fro-m the windavay 11 into the main wind-chest.The parts may be held in this position for the accentuation of anyparticular note or chord, or for continued loud playin as desired. Ineither case the instrument is put under the direct action of the suctionbellows as long as the valve is held away from the seat by theregulator. If accentuation for only one note or chord is desired, thelever 42 is turned to the position shown in the drawings when theparticular perforation or perforations come over the tracker. Now whenit is desired to bring the parts in position to modulate or soften anote or notes automatically, the lever is turned the other way asstated, so as to allow the chamber 25 to communicate with the outer air,when, of course, the regulator is collapsed and the valve works in theautomatic manner as stated.

Although I have described the invention as applied to a pneumaticallycontrolled musical instrument, I am aware that it is capable of generalapplication for the control of pneumatic motors.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, I amaware that many modifications may be made therein by persons skilled inthe art without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in theclaims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form orapplication of the invention shown and described, but

lVhat I do claim is 1''. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, thecombination with a wind-way, of a valve for controlling the flow of airtherethrough, a pneumatic regulator for controlling the valve, saidvalve being located in said regulater, and means entirely outside saidregulator connected with said wind way for controlling the pressure onthe outside of said regulator.

2. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination with a wind-way,of a valve for controlling the flow of air therethrough, and a pneumaticregulator for exclusively controlling the entire operation of saidvalve, said valve being located in said regulator and being movable fromits seat independently of the regulator.

3. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination with a wind-way,of a valve, a pneumatic regulator for controlling the valve having amovable leaf, and means whereby both sides of the movable leaf can beput into communication with the wind way to balance the tension orpressure on opposite sides thereof.

In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination with a wind-way, ofa valve for controlling the flow of air therethrough, a pneumaticregulator for controlling the valve, said valve being located in saidregulator, pneumatic means external to the regulator for controlling it,and valves for con trolling the operation of said pneumatic means.

5. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination with a wind-way,of a valve for controlling the flow therethrough, a pneumatic regulatorfor controlling the valve, means controlled independently of the flow ofair through said wind-way for controlling the operation of saidregulator, and pneumatic means for controlling the operation of saidregulator by change of pressure or tension on the outside thereof.

6. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination with a wind-way,of a valve for controlling the flow therethrough, a pneumatic regulatorfor controlling the valve, said valve being located in said regulator,means controlled independently of the flow of air through said wind-wayfor controlling the operation of said regulator, and pneumatic means forcontrolling the operation of said regulator by change of pressure ortension on the outside thereof.

7. The combination with a main windchest, of a wind-way, a portconnecting the main wind-chest and windavay, a valve for controllingsaid port, a pneumatic regulator, in which said valve is located, communicating with said wind-chest and port, and having means for moving thevalve from its seat when the regulator is expanded, and a chamber inwhich said regulator is located, said chamber being connected with themain wind-chest.

8. The combination with a main windchest, of a wind-way, a portconnecting the main wind-chest and wind-way, a valve for controllingsaid port, a pneumatic regulator communicating with said wind -way andport, and having means for moving the valve from its seat when theregulator is expanded, a chamber in which said regulator is located, andmeans for putting said chamber under tension.

9. The combination with a main windchest, of a wind-way, a portconnecting the main wind-chest and wind-way, a valve for controllingsaid port, a pneumatic regulator communicating with said wind-way andport and having means for moving the valve from its seat when theregulator is expanded, a chamber in which said regulator is located, andmeans for connecting said chamber either with the main windchest or withthe outside air.

10. The combination with a main windchest, a wind way, a port connectingthe main wind-chest and wind-way, a valve for controlling said port, apneumatic regulator communicating with said wind-way and port and havingmeans for moving the valve from its seat when the regulator is expanded,a chamber in which said regulator is lo cated, and means for connectingsaid chamber either with the main wind-chest or with the outside air,said means comprising a valve stem and a pair of valves both movablymounted thereon.

11. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination of a regulatorpneumatic, a valve therein controlled thereby, a chamber in which saidpneumatic regulator is contained, a wind-chest, means for connectingsaid chamber with the wind-chest or with the external air, and means forpermitting air pressure in the chamber to escape.

12. In a regulator for pneumatic motors,

the combination of a chamber, a pneumatic regulator therein, means forconnecting said regulator with a source of air tension or with the outerair, and means for permitting air pressure in the chamber to escapeautomatically.

13. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination of a chamber, apneumatic regulator therein, means for putting said chamber undertension, a port in the chamber, and a flap valve on the outside thereoffor permitting the air pressure in the chamher to escape and forpreventing the admission of air pressure from the outside.

14. In a regulator for pneumatic motors, the combination with awind-way, of a valve for controlling the flow of air therethrough, apneumatic regulator for exclusively controlling the entire operation ofsaid valve, said valve being located in said regulator and being movablefrom its seat independ-

